Four weeks after her wedding day in Nigeria, Rifkatu* was abducted by Fulani militants and raped repeatedly. She was eventually released and returned home, but her community turned against her.
VIDEO SCRIPT
Rifkatu
We are Christians and all of us in my village are Christians. We were on our way home from the farm when Fulani militants caught us. They caught us and took us to their camp in the bush
Many thousands of Christians in rural northern Nigeria live with the ever present risk of attacks by radicalized Fulani militants.
It was just four weeks after her wedding day that Rifkatu was abducted from the family farm along with her sister in law.
Rifkatua
When we were taken to their camp, most of them, and raped us. You would see us when we cried. They said that mattresses don’t cry. They said that we are their mattresses now, so we couldn’t move or turn over.
It reached the point that I bit my tongue and blood started flowing.
Rifkatu was released and could return to her husband pastor Zamai. About two months later, she became pregnant. But false rumors spread that Rifkatu’s baby had been fathered by one of the militants, and that led the community to reject them.
Rifkatu
Even three months after our baby was born some of our community said that she did not look like us. Some said that our baby is disturbed because I came back with evil spirits. This even went into the church to the extent that some women in church wouldn’t come close to us
Open doors invited Rifkatu to the trauma center where she could receive care and find healing at the cross of Jesus.
Rifkatu
The trauma center helped me. When I came, I had a lot of burdens. My heart was so heavy. Terrified and filled with fear. Through the teaching and through hearing the stories of others. I was helped so much. Something I will not forget is taking our pains to the cross.
And everyone wrote their pains on a piece of paper. We sang songs and burned pieces of paper at the cross. They told us that as the ashes go up, our pains are going up to God.
People Interviewed and their Titles
Rifkatu – named changed for security reasons.
Recording Location
Nigeria
Organization featured in this Story
Open Doors UK – www.opendoorsuk.org
EN 
ES